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Tips for Bringing Your Dog on Car Rides

October 15, 2016

Does your canine buddy jump for joy when he hears the words ‘Car Ride’? Does Fido get excited when you reach for your keys? Man’s Best Friend loves to get out and about. However, it’s very important for you to always keep your pet’s safety first when taking your pooch for a ride. Read on as a local Newmarket, ON vet lists some great tips for riding around with Fido.

Crate

First things first: we strongly recommend that dogs always be crated for travel. It’s much safer! While Fido may love sticking his adorable face out the window, you don’t want to take a chance of him bumping you while you’re driving. Dogs also can endanger themselves by stepping on the controls from power windows.

Blanket

Get an old blanket to put down over your seats when you have Fido with you. This will help keep fur from getting all over your seats. (Of course, you’ll still need to vacuum your vehicle regularly.)

Supplies

Keep a small bag for Fido in the trunk. You’ll want to pack a spare leash and collar, waste baggies and a scooper, a first aid kit, water, a collapsible doggy dish, and copies of your pup’s paperwork. You may also want to add some towels and toys.

Precautions

Never leave your canine pal unattended in a car, even just for a few minutes. In summer, temperatures can rise very quickly inside a parked vehicle, even with the window cracked. And in winter, the opposite happens: cars can get chilly very quickly in cold weather. If you can’t take Fido inside with you at your destination, let him stay home and take a nap.

Carsickness

Just like people, dogs can get carsick. If your pup tends to get queasy in moving vehicles, try not to feed him immediately before taking him for a ride. You’ll also want to make sure your pooch is getting plenty of fresh air. Keep the windows cracked. Before going on a long trip, get Fido used to car rides by taking him for a series of shorter drives. Last but not least, when you have your furry friend with you, try to avoid routes with a lot of speed bumps and/or frost heaves.